What is it about her smile or the wishy-washy way she twitches her nose, causing the wind to wander every "witch" direction, just like a snake in the grass?

Bewitched.

One time she's up, next time she's down, a little mania here, a little depression there. Now you see her, now you don't. But in the meantime, how has this "little white witch" managed to divert your attention (and pull the white wool over your eyes)?

Tricky gal, that Samantha, and her mom whose first name appropriately begins with "Endor." (see I Samuel 28:6-7)

For a child growing up in the late 50's/early 60's, and who didn't know any better, the program seemed like harmless fantasy. Little did this baby boomer realize the deception she was under at the time.

Bewitched.

That said it all.

Samantha twitched, we were bewitched, and everyone called it a happy ending,

Not seeing how this fantasy
Watched innocently on TV
Did blunt our understanding
Of the true reality.

Life was tough back then. Girls had to walk to school in skirts (no pants), even in freezing winter. But that was nothing compared to the chill inside the classroom, which was often downright

Depressing.

You see, the year I entered kindergarten was the year Jezebel, controlling spirit of many witchcrafts (see II Kings 9:22), banished prayer from public schools here in America. Perhaps that's why the one I attended was a zoo, full of teachers that knew not what to do with so many wild and out-of-control children. The result was that by the time I got home from school I was dying for a diversion.

Bewitched.

That's what happens when you turn your back on God. Satan steps right in. He confuses you, puts you under his power and turns God's fearfully and wonderfully made creation into something He never intended for it to be.

Bewitched.

With a twitch of his nose, so quick, so subtle, like a wishy-washy ripple that snake in the grass trips you. Down you fall, splat! onto the ground.

Now you see him, now you don't. But all you know, very frankly, is that you have a sick headache. Soon you find yourself feeling sooo...

Depressed.

Sound familiar?

In the meantime, all the insults and threats and name-calling to which you've been exposed (in public school) make you feel as if you're somehow less than who you are, less than who God created you to be.

When you look in the mirror you no longer see a person, but a bullfrog. Or is it a toad? Or a bulldog? Isn't it interesting how witchcraft takes away from your self image? It's always seeking to twist and distort who you really are, especially if you're a believer in Christ. Witchcraft can't really turn you into anything different, but it sure can make you feel worthless and disgusting. And that's kind of scary. Because,

You really are what you think (see Proverbs 23:7), and if your thoughts are

Depressing,

Then that will cause you to become depressed. And if you're depressed, then chances are that somewhere, somehow you've been

Bewitched.

As in tricked, by witchcraft. And to get tricked like that is as easy as opening a book or turning on the TV.

You see, what you read
Or watch on TV
Affects who you are
And all you can be.

That's because your eyes and ears are primary gateways to your thought life. Now when it comes to thoughts, faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), but doubt often comes by seeing. And a double-minded man or woman receives nothing from the Lord (James 1:6-8). I should know, because I was plagued with doubts all those years I remained

Bewitched.

That was the program of choice for a short little girl forced to wear an eye patch in an attempt to cure her amblyopia (also known as lazy eye). For her, public school was a frightening place, and confusing. Like a man double-minded, her vision had been blinded. Nor could she find healing in that pool called Sunday school, because she had one eye on Jesus and one eye on the program, the one they called

Bewitched.

No matter how you look at it, it sure is

Depressing

to be

Bewitched,

and so distressing to be discouraged when you need to be encouraged, to be put down when what you need is to be lifted up.

The depressions of witchcraft always bring a body down.

Their pointing fingers, just like their pointy hats, are always accusing. (Get the pitchfork?)

Their wild hand motions and deadly potions are constantly confusing.

The curses flowing from their lips do spell abuse,

And it's all a ruse to bind (and blind) the uneducated and ignorant.

Their hexes are hell's X's, wrinkles on the face of a warthog. Or should we call them HOGWARTS, bruises of a critical spirit?

Do you know what I'm talking about? Perhaps you've never watched the show, or any such programming. If so, then good for you. But if you have, you might consider it a possible source of depression. And if you can't find rest in who you are in Christ, then it's quite possible you've been

Bewitched.

For witchcraft is all about control. That's why those involved in it always want to put you down. Sometimes their putdowns are blatant, sometimes they're subtle, but they're always for the purposes of making you into a not-so-unique eunuch (a nice little non-productive slave who will conform to their wishes).

Bewitched.

That's what happened to the Galatians when the religious guys tried to circumcise (constrict or make smaller) their faith (See Galatians 3:1-14 and 5:1-7).

They switched the gospel tried and true
For some old bitter, fleshly brew.
And yet reliance on the flesh
Can only make a soul depressed.

For witchcraft is indeed a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-20). It goes hand-in-hand with rebellion and idolatry (I Samuel 15:23). Witchcraft is what happens when a person says, "I'm in control of my own life; I'll make the things and the people in my life do what I want them to."

Witchcraft tries to control people through fear (and sometimes through tears). And when you're afraid to go against such control, it makes you double-minded. On the one hand you want to make your own choice, but on the other hand you want to please the witch (or wizard) so that they won't get angry with you. Therein lies the confusion, the hesitation, the uncertainty as to what to do. It's emotional manipulation,

like when Samantha twitches her little nose, then suddenly the "bad guy" changes his mind about something. Therein lies the essence of being

Bewitched.

They want to make you fall in love with them and/or their ideas. For once they have your worship, they can get anything they want from you. So with their perfumed potions they pull on your emotions. You feel compelled to do what they want.

Have you ever known anyone like that? Or have you yourself ever tried to control anyone - through fear or through tears?

If so, I have good news for you.

For whether you have been bewitched or acted like a witch, you don't have to stay that way. You are what you think, and if you surrender your thought life to Jesus Christ, He can change it for good. Call on Him and He'll save you from your witchcrafts and your double-mindedness (Romans 10:8-13). Repent of trying to control your own life and/or the lives of others. Swallow your pride and say you're sorry where necessary. God always honors humility (see I Peter 5:5 and James 4:6).

After you come to Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit. If you do, the Lord will fill you with His joy, which leaves no room for depression. Take on the garment of His praise, which casts out the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). (I have experienced this firsthand and can testify to the fact that it really works!)

Sins such as witchcraft grieve the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit is grieved, we become depressed. But the blood of Jesus is far greater than any sin or any depression that may result from it. Through His death on the cross, He became a curse for us to take away every curse of witchcraft sent against us (no matter how you "spell" it). See Matthew 26:26-28, Romans 3:23-28, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 4:30, and Revelation 12:11.

By His stripes we are healed of any sin that may depress us. (See Isaiah 53:5, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 8:14-17, and Psalm 103)

So that, if we confess our sins to God, we know He will forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (see I John 1:9).

For the Father seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Through His Son Jesus He will fill us with the Holy Spirit if we ask rightly (Luke 11:13 and James 4:3). He enjoys hearing our thanksgiving and our praise.

Thanksgiving and praise enable us to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-19) who in turn shows us where we need to repent, turning from sin and forgiving all those who have hurt us. Forgiving those who have hurt us helps release us from bondage due to witchcraft and any other sins (see Matthew 18:21-35 and Mark 11:25).

For if through the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body we shall live. (Romans 8:13)

In Christ we have been blessed and needn't stay depressed, or distressed, or in any way bewitched.

So there you have it: Depressed or Bewitched? Either way, it's possible to get free.